Traffic island

Not to be confused with phantom island.

A traffic island is a solid or painted object in a road that channels traffic. It can also be a narrow strip of island between roads that intersect at an acute angle. If the island uses road markings only, without raised curbs or other physical obstructions, it is called a painted island or (especially in the UK) ghost island. Traffic islands can be used to reduce the speed of cars driving through,^[1] or to provide a central refuge to pedestrians crossing the road.

A traffic island in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

When traffic islands are longer, they are instead called traffic medians, a strip in the middle of a road, serving the divider function over a much longer distance.^[2]

Refuge island in Lisbon, Portugal

Some traffic islands may serve as refuge islands for pedestrians. Traffic islands are often used at partially blind intersections on back-streets to prevent cars from cutting a corner with potentially dangerous results, or to prevent some movements totally, for traffic safety or traffic calming reasons.^[3]

In certain areas of the United Kingdom, particularly in The Midlands, the term island is often used as a synonym for roundabout.^[4]